Former Cop Facing Manslaughter Charge After Shooting Unarmed Woman, Wants His Job Back With Back Pay

Shawn Cowley, a former narcotics
officer in West Valley City, Utah, is facing a single count of
manslaughter for fatally shooting an unarmed woman in a parking lot
during an undercover drug operation.
Via the Associated Press:

Cowley fired at the unarmed [Danielle] Willard as she backed her
car out of an apartment complex parking spot. He contended his life
was in danger, but [the district attorney, Sim] Gill said that’s
not the case because Cowley was standing on the side of the woman’s
car.

Cowley’s attorney Lindsay Jarvis has called Gill’s decision to
prosecute the former officer “incredibly disappointing” and said
Cowley continues to maintain his innocence.

The district attorney previously found the shooting, which also
involved another cop who is not facing any criminal charges, not
justified, opening the door up to the current prosecution the cop’s
attorney calls “disappointing.” Willard’s mother, too, said she was
disappointed, that Cowley wasn’t charged with anything more
serious, although she says she’s happy he was charged at all.

Cowley was fired after the incident, but it doesn’t sound like
it was quite because he killed someone while on duty. The
Deseret News
explains:

Cowley and [the other cop, Kevin] Salmon were members of West
Valley’s now disbanded Neighborhood Narcotics Unit. After the
shooting, Cowley was fired from the department for allegedly
mishandling evidence and being insubordinate. Salmon has remained
on paid administrative leave since the incident. Cowley is in the
process of appealing his firing before the West Valley City Civil
Service Commission. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Aug.
25.

The generous labor protections afforded to police officers as
public employees means Cowley could get his job back before he’s
convicted or acquitted, and could get paid for it. His first
criminal hearing is July 7.